Call me crazy, but personally I don't want him back at any price tag over $4.5 million dollars. He's getting old, he's definitely lost a step, and he's not as physical as he once was (and he wasn't very physical to begin with). I personally don't think he's worth the $6.5-7.5 that he's been making for the last three seasons any longer. If he doesn't come at a discount this time around (a super star discount, he is still a very good player and deserves to be paid as such, $4.5 is a very good salary in the NHL, especially for a defenseman), I say we part ways with him and set our sites on Shae Webber.

He'll probably win another Norris trophy this year. He's still one of the top 5 best defenseman in the league. Also, isn't Webber a RFA???

Who cares? What's it going to cost us, a couple of draft picks? Big deal... He's one of the best defensemen in the league and he's in his mid-20's. Nick is losing speed, he's not as physical as he used to be, and he never was all that physical. Swapping Nick for Webber adds fire, speed, size, strength and some MUCH needed physical play.

Lidstrom made $6.2M this past season and I'd imagine that he'd sign for the same amount for another year. My understanding is that the Red Wings won't pay him less than Rafalski's $6M so he'll be the highest paid defenseman on the team. Atleast that was the case last year.

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May 22nd, 2011, 8:41 am

wjb21ndtown

Re: Nick Lidstrom

slybri19 wrote:

Lidstrom made $6.2M this past season and I'd imagine that he'd sign for the same amount for another year. My understanding is that the Red Wings won't pay him less than Rafalski's $6M so he'll be the highest paid defenseman on the team. Atleast that was the case last year.

Hopefully Rafalski retires and we can keep Nick, pay him less and sign Shea Webber. That's my dream scenario. I could care less about the draft picks and the potential RFA status from Webber. I would love to swing a sign and trade, but I don't know if the NHL is structured that way or not...

Also talk about Wings moving to Eastern Conference. I find it good for the team!

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May 31st, 2011, 11:30 am

TheRealWags

Modmin Dude

Joined: December 31st, 2004, 9:55 amPosts: 12278

Re: Nick Lidstrom

Lions2SB2 wrote:

Also talk about Wings moving to Eastern Conference. I find it good for the team!

Haven't they been 'talking' about that for years??? Though I would like it to happen, it won't....at least not until there is another Western Conference team that is as marketable as the Wings are........

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May 31st, 2011, 2:28 pm

wjb21ndtown

Re: Nick Lidstrom

TheRealWags wrote:

Lions2SB2 wrote:

Also talk about Wings moving to Eastern Conference. I find it good for the team!

Haven't they been 'talking' about that for years??? Though I would like it to happen, it won't....at least not until there is another Western Conference team that is as marketable as the Wings are........

I agree... It's simply not going to happen. It would be great for the team, but the league won't allow it.

On the Nick front... My wish would be to sign Webber and Nick, but at this point in his career I'd take Webber over Nick.

May 31st, 2011, 4:05 pm

inheritedlionsfan

Team MVP

Joined: January 13th, 2006, 4:18 amPosts: 3347Location: Maryland

Re: Nick Lidstrom

With the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg and to the Western Conference, someone will have to move to the east.

I've heard that they're thinking about moving Nashville to the Eastern Conference in 2012-2013.

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June 2nd, 2011, 9:59 pm

jomo269

NFL Team Captain

Joined: January 27th, 2005, 9:12 pmPosts: 1610Location: Midland, MI

Re: Nick Lidstrom

I thought I saw on ESPN that Winnipeg will be playing in the Eastern Conf.

June 2nd, 2011, 11:07 pm

Pablo

RIP Killer

Joined: August 6th, 2004, 9:21 amPosts: 9589Location: Dallas

Re: Nick Lidstrom

AP wrote:

Nicklas Lidstrom will return to play for the Detroit Red Wings.

The team announced the decision Monday before a scheduled conference call with Lidstrom and general manager Ken Holland.

The 41-year-old Swede, who will return for a 20th season, had considered retiring.

Lidstrom is a Norris Trophy finalist for the 11th time in 13 seasons. If he wins the award for being the NHL's top defenseman — it would be his seventh — he will match Doug Harvey's total and trail Bobby Orr's record by only one.

The team announced the decision Monday before a scheduled conference call with Lidstrom and general manager Ken Holland.

The 41-year-old Swede, who will return for a 20th season, had considered retiring.

Lidstrom is a Norris Trophy finalist for the 11th time in 13 seasons. If he wins the award for being the NHL's top defenseman — it would be his seventh — he will match Doug Harvey's total and trail Bobby Orr's record by only one.

1 yr. deal at his old salary. Personally, I think he should have taken less ($5.5 - $6.25), but if he was playing hardball and the decision came down to allowing him to retire or paying him what he made last year I think we made the right call.

The salary cap went up to $64 million, and Rafalski retired. Hopefully we can land Shea Webber and be done with it.